Parents so far more positive than negative over District 300 late-start proposal

Response among parents to the idea of turning Du Quoin schools' once-a-month early dismissal days into late start days has so far been "more positive than negative," said District 300 Superintendent Matt Hickam.

However, the school board won't make a decision until parents have been surveyed at the annual school improvement focus meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. Thursday (March 12) in the Du Quoin Elementary School commons area.

The monthly "Data Days" involve hourlong staff meetings that begin at 2 p.m. The problem, Hickam said, is that kids who are involved in sports or other after-school events are forced to sit around for an hour until their coaches or teachers are out of the meeting and ready to go.

"They have an hour or hour-plus to kill, and they aren't really supposed to be in school because there is nobody to supervise them," Hickam said.

Hickam has proposed that on Data Days, school would start an hour later, or about 9 a.m., and the staff meetings would begin at 8 a.m.

Breakfast would still be served, and the school would be open at the usual time with staff on hand, for children whose parents have to drop them off.

Hickam said he sent out parent surveys and also sent a mass text to all parents about the late-start proposal.

In the past couple weeks about 160 parents have responded, he said, grading the proposal with mostly 4s and 5s on a 1-5 scale.

The down side appears to be children who take the bus to school, and whether they would have to stand at their bus stops after their parents have gone to work.

Meanwhile, parents are encouraged to come to the focus meeting on Thursday to be part of the discussion, and also to hear what is coming up at their children's schools.

The evening starts with a group meeting, where the late start idea will be discussed. Parents will then break up into three groups, one for each building, where the three principals will lead building-focused discussions. No sign-ups are necessary, just show up.

If approved, the late-start proposal would be implemented the 2020-21 school year.